Programme
Day 1 / 20.05.2025
Congress Opening
09.00
Registration
09.30
Opening.
– Edgars Rinkēvičs, President of Latvia
– Olivér Várhelyi, European Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare (video address)
– Zanda Lukaševiča-Kalniņa, Deputy Speaker of the Parliament, Latvia
– Hosams Abu Meri, Minister of Health of the Republic of Latvia
– Olga Valciņa, founder of the Latvian oncological patient organization “Onkoalianse”
Session 1: Policy Options for Equality in Cancer Treatment
10.00
INTRODUCTORY PRESENTATIONS
INEQUALITIES IN CANCER PATIENTS IN THE EU CHARACTERISTICS
– Nicolò Matteo Luca Battisti, Co-chair, European Cancer Organization Inequalities Network
EUROPE’S BEATING CANCER PLAN ON THE POLITICAL AGENDA OF EU COUNTRIES
– Ivars Ījabs, Latvian Member of the European Parliament, Deputy Head of the European Parliament’s Special Committee on Beating Cancer (BECA), Latvia
THE IMPACT OF THE STRUCTURE OF THE HEALTH SYSTEM ON CANCER INEQUALITIES
– Dr Dheepa Rajan, European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies, WHO European Centre for Health Policy, Belgium
THE SOCIAL IMPACT OF HEALTH TECHNOLOGIES IN REDUCING INEQUALITIES IN CANCER CARE
– Dr Karla Hernández-Villafuerte, Senior Researcher on Health Economics, WifOR Institute, Germany
11.00
DISCUSSION: STRATEGIES AND EXAMPLES OF GOOD PRACTICE FOR ENSURING EQUALITY
Moderator: Ivars Ījabs, Latvian Member of the European Parliament, Deputy Head of the European Parliament’s Special Committee on Beating Cancer (BECA), Latvia
PARTICIPANTS:
– Līga Kozlovska, Head of the Public Health Sub-Committee of the Saeima of the Republic of Latvia
– Dace Kļaviņa, Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Health of the Republic of Latvia
– Radu Gănescu, President of the Romanian National Coalition of Chronic Disease Patient Organisations (COPAC), Romania
– Jacek Maciejewski, Member of the management board of the Rak’n’Roll Foundation, Poland
11.40
BREAK
Session 2: Innovation and research in cancer treatment
11.50
INTRODUCTORY PRESENTATIONS
EUROPE’S LEADING RESEARCH PROJECTS IN THE FIELD OF CANCER TREATMENT
– Bogi Eliasen, Executive Director, Movement Health Foundation
THE LATEST BIOTECHNOLOGICAL DISCOVERIES AND THEIR ROLE IN PERSONALISED TREATMENTS
– Prof. Mārcis Leja, Director of the Institute of Clinical and Preventive Medicine of the University of Latvia
12.20
DISCUSSION: COOPERATION BETWEEN THE PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY AND ACADEMIA IN CREATING INNOVATION
Moderator: Olga Valciņa, founder of the Latvian oncological patient organization “Onkoalianse”
PARTICIPANTS:
– Dr. Alinta Hegmane, Chair of the Latvian Association of Oncologists
– Normunds Staņevičs, Chairman of the Board of Riga East University Hospital, Latvia
– Dainis Krieviņš, Director of the Institute of Science, Pauls Stradins Clinical University Hospital, Latvia
13.00
LUNCH BREAK
Session 3: The Cost of Cancer Treatment – How to Ensure Reasonable Prices for Patients?
13.45
INTRODUCTORY PRESENTATION
A VALUE-BASED HEALTHCARE APPROACH TO INCREASING HEALTHCARE EFFICIENCY AND REDUCING COSTS
– Zofia Das-Gupta, Senior Director of Outcomes Research, International Consortium of Health Result Measurements (ICHOM)
14.00
DISCUSSION: OPTIONS FOR IMPLEMENTING A VALUE-BASED APPROACH
Moderator: Olga Valciņa, founder of the Latvian oncological patient organization “Onkoalianse”
PARTICIPANTS:
– Valts Ābols, Chairman of the Board, Children’s Clinical University Hospital, Latvia
– Daiga Behmane, researcher at the Riga Stradins University, Latvia
– Inès Aoufi, Associate Consultant, European Initiative on Ending Discrimination Against Cancer Survivors, Belgium
Session 4: How to ensure equal access to innovation for all patients
14.40
INTRODUCTORY PRESENTATION
PRACTICAL STRATEGIES FOR INNOVATING AND ENSURING EQUAL ACCESS TO NEW MEDICINES IN EUROPE
– Adam Sohn, Head of Patient Engagement Solutions, IQVIA, US
14.55
DISCUSSION: FAIRNESS OPTIONS AND EXISTING MECHANISMS
Moderator: Inese Supe
PARTICIPANTS:
– Ingrīda Circene, Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Social and Labour Affairs, Latvia
– Neringa Ciakiene, Head of the Lithuanian Cancer Patient Coalition (POLA), Lithuania
– Maija Āboliņa, Member of the Supervisory Board, State Audit Office, Latvia
– Aija Geriņa, Chair of the Association of Oncology Chemotherapists, Latvia
15.30
CLOSING NOTE AND CONCLUSIONS
-Ingrīda Circene,Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Social and Labour Affairs, Latvia
– Olga Valciņa, founder of the Latvian oncological patient organization “Onkoalianse”
Day 2 / 21.05.2025
PATIENTS FORUM - closed session
09.00
Patients’ NGO discussion: patient advocacy strategies and outcomes. Exchange of experiences.
11.00
Patients’ NGO discussion: patient advocacy strategies and outcomes. Exchange of experiences.
13.00
Closing note